FSU seeks rebound, Boston College aims for big upset

By Jason Shoot | News Herald Writer

Published: Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 12:25 AM.

TALLAHASSEE — The perception is more important than reality at Boston College.

Eagles linebacker Nick Clancy believes Florida State players generally disregard the Eagle program as second rate, a step down from a Seminole program with its rich history. No FSU players said as much this week, of course, in advance of the two teams’ meeting Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown. Clancy doesn’t need them to.

“I think their mind-set is, ‘OK, we were these big-time recruits, they’re much more talented than us, we don’t belong on the field with them,’” Clancy told The Boston Globe. “And I think that’s kind of been the mentality for not just Florida State but a number of teams in the ACC when they face BC.

“They think that we’re much less talented. But when it comes down to it, we’re just different type of people. We’re blue-collar people. We have a very strong work ethic, we know when adversity’s thrown in our face what to do and how to respond, and I think that’s what separates us.”

The 12th-ranked Seminoles (5-1, 2-1 ACC) enter the game still stinging from a last-minute 17-16 loss at North Carolina State last weekend. Boston College (1-4, 0-2) is trying to find its first win against a Football Bowl Subdivision team. The game starts at 4:30 p.m. CDT and will be televised on ESPN2.

FSU certainly hasn’t dominated the series of late against its Atlantic Division rival. FSU has won six of the past 10 meetings, including a 38-7 win in Chestnut Hill, Mass., last year. The Seminoles survived a scare when they staged a fourth-quarter rally to beat the Eagles 24-19 in Tallahassee two years ago. Boston College defeated FSU 24-17 at home in 2009.

If Florida State players do slight the Eagles, it’s not readily apparent. Based on recent results, they have no reason to suffer from a superiority complex. Clancy, a senior who had two tackles in last year’s matchup, apparently believes his team has to earn the Seminoles’ respect.

TALLAHASSEE — The perception is more important than reality at Boston College.

Eagles linebacker Nick Clancy believes Florida State players generally disregard the Eagle program as second rate, a step down from a Seminole program with its rich history. No FSU players said as much this week, of course, in advance of the two teams’ meeting Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown. Clancy doesn’t need them to.

“I think their mind-set is, ‘OK, we were these big-time recruits, they’re much more talented than us, we don’t belong on the field with them,’” Clancy told The Boston Globe. “And I think that’s kind of been the mentality for not just Florida State but a number of teams in the ACC when they face BC.

“They think that we’re much less talented. But when it comes down to it, we’re just different type of people. We’re blue-collar people. We have a very strong work ethic, we know when adversity’s thrown in our face what to do and how to respond, and I think that’s what separates us.”

The 12th-ranked Seminoles (5-1, 2-1 ACC) enter the game still stinging from a last-minute 17-16 loss at North Carolina State last weekend. Boston College (1-4, 0-2) is trying to find its first win against a Football Bowl Subdivision team. The game starts at 4:30 p.m. CDT and will be televised on ESPN2.

FSU certainly hasn’t dominated the series of late against its Atlantic Division rival. FSU has won six of the past 10 meetings, including a 38-7 win in Chestnut Hill, Mass., last year. The Seminoles survived a scare when they staged a fourth-quarter rally to beat the Eagles 24-19 in Tallahassee two years ago. Boston College defeated FSU 24-17 at home in 2009.

If Florida State players do slight the Eagles, it’s not readily apparent. Based on recent results, they have no reason to suffer from a superiority complex. Clancy, a senior who had two tackles in last year’s matchup, apparently believes his team has to earn the Seminoles’ respect.

“That’s what we’re preparing for this week, is them running their bread and butter, and they think they’re going to beat us with it,” Clancy said. “They don’t respect us, they don’t respect BC, and in the past we’ve surprised them.”

If Clancy’s comments didn’t register as bulletin board material in FSU’s locker room, maybe words provided to The Globe by Eagles sophomore Sean Sylvia did. The defensive back suggested the Seminoles will struggle to put last week’s loss behind them.

“They’re looking at a national championship and now that’s out of their reach, so I think they’re kind of down and it’s like, ‘What to do now?’” Sylvia told The Globe. “Those kind of guys have had everything handed to them over the years and I don’t think they can respond to a tough loss like last week.

“Around here, we have more blue-collar guys. We have guys that have been through a lot, and we’re more equipped to bounce back from a loss or start of the season like we have. We have a mind-set of winning seven in a row when they have a mind-set of ‘What to do next?’”